BQA is my story‚...what's yours?

Becoming Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified allows us to share our story and ensure consumers that we are responsibly raising a safe, wholesome, and healthy beef supply. The checkoff's BQA practices show us the best management practices for handling cattle, tending to their health, and taking care of the environment.

Hear from fellow producers about why BQA is important on their own farms and ranches:

Kristy Lage, Nebraska

"The BQA program is the answer to all questions anyone may have about how we raise our beef! It provides the assurance consumers demand when purchasing beef. Definitely an important marketing tool we use to sell and promote the beef we raise."

Janet Crow, Missouri

"I was taught at a young age there is a right way and a wrong way to do business no matter the task at hand. In any business there is a proven process for success. In the cattle industry the benchmark is the BQA way. I had been raising cattle on my own for about 15 years. I've always looked for new knowledge and ways to work more efficiently which is a must when you have two kids, a husband and a business to run. The key to promotion and selling more beef is to educate the public on the true facts of beef production. The public and especially the people in large cities and suburbs need to know that beef producers are passionate about what goes on their plates. BQA and the beef checkoff dollars help promote the benefits of lean beef through many avenues such as cook books, 30 minutes or less recipes, cooking demo's at state fairs and grocery stores, Facebook promotions, and educational tools to schools.

BQA gives us the tools we need to be environmentally sustainable on the farm, raise a healthy quality beef product for consumers, and a better process to do business right on the farm."

Julie Tillett, Florida

"BQA enables all of my students to learn correct animal husbandry skills and apply them to their own operation. Students are responsible and expected to share their knowledge with others to enhance non-producer's awareness of the true beef industry."

Stacey Hadrick, South Dakota

"The BQA program provides important benefits to producers and consumers alike.

This beef checkoff funded program gives producers guidelines for proper cattle handling and gives consumers an important level of comfort that the cattle were properly cared for. Every year we provide freezer beef for several friends and family members.

It's a great opportunity for us to talk about how the cattle were raised and handled. We explain things like injection sites and withdraw periods, just to name a few.

In the end it means we all get to enjoy wholesome, nutritious and delicious beef."